What is Super Tuesday?
Super Tuesday is the informal name for the single day during the presidential primary season when the largest number of states simultaneously hold their primaries or caucuses. It is not a fixed date in law - the timing is set by state and party decisions - but it is the most consequential day of the primary season.
Super Tuesday is the day in the presidential primary calendar when more states vote at once than on any other single day, making it the highest-stakes moment of the nomination race. Because so many delegates are awarded simultaneously, Super Tuesday results often decide - or at least clarify - who will win each party's presidential nomination.
The name dates to the 1980s, when a group of Southern states coordinated their primaries on the same Tuesday to give the region more influence in the Democratic nomination process. In 1988, both parties held large Super Tuesday contests. Over subsequent cycles the concept spread, and today Super Tuesday typically features a dozen or more states across both parties, including large delegate-rich states like California and Texas.
In recent cycles, Super Tuesday has fallen in early March: March 1 in 2016, March 3 in 2020, and March 5 in 2024. The specific date is not fixed by any federal law - it emerges from each state's decision about when to hold its primary, combined with each party's delegate allocation rules that discourage states from scheduling too early. This is distinct from the 'when' question; the exact 2028 Super Tuesday date will be confirmed once both parties finalize their primary calendars, which typically happens in 2026 and 2027.
For a candidate, performing well on Super Tuesday is crucial. A dominant performance - winning most of the states and delegates in play - can give a candidate a nearly insurmountable delegate lead. A poor Super Tuesday showing, conversely, often ends campaigns or fatally narrows a candidate's path to the nomination.
Related: 2028 primary calendar | 2028 primaries by state | How do presidential primaries work?
Related questions
Which states typically vote on Super Tuesday?
Can a candidate clinch the nomination on Super Tuesday?
When will the 2028 Super Tuesday date be announced?
Is Super Tuesday the same date for both parties?
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Related explainers
Super Tuesday 2028 has not been officially scheduled yet. Based on historical patterns it will likely fall in early March 2028, but party rules and state decisions will set the exact date.
Primary voters choose delegates who will represent them at the party's national convention. The candidate who wins enough delegates - typically a majority - becomes the party's nominee.
A delegate is a person authorized to represent their state at the national party convention and cast a vote toward selecting the presidential nominee. Primary voters are choosing these delegates, not the nominee directly.
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